CO MANUFACTURING AIMS TO CREATE THE NEXT GENERATION WITH NEW MANUFACTURING DEGREE PATHWAY
A leading manufacturer of home improvement products is looking to bridge a major skills gap by creating its own Manufacturing Degree pathway. CO Manufacturing (the new name for Conservatory Outlet), which produces industry- leading doors, windows and living spaces, is looking for five young people to be the first in the country to embark on a career route that could eventually lead to a degree and a senior leadership position. The Wakefield-based company has decided to take measures into its own hands after being left frustrated by the focus on advanced engineering, automation and aerospace, leaving its potential manufacturing operatives with a fragmented pathway that often stops before a degree. Head of HR Karen Starkey and CEO Greg Kane decided to come together to reverse this trend and, thanks to a strong working relationship with the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, there is now a clear Manufacturing Degree pathway ready to launch shortly. “There are lots of training opportunities out there and different apprenticeships, but you have to navigate a maze of courses, funding routes and providers to take someone from college and give them a chance to gain a manufacturing degree,” explained Karen, who has been with CO Manufacturing for more than 10 years. “This is a long-term issue for our business as we desperately need new talent coming through the ranks so that we can retain some of the traditional skills associated with fenestration, without it being lost with knowledgeable members of our team retiring.” She went on to add: “That’s why we knew we had to act, and I’m delighted to say that we now have
a clear pathway for young people to follow, from Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships all the way to a degree.” The Manufacturing Degree pathway with CO Manufacturing starts with a two-year introduction to the business to help them understand the full production process for uPVC windows and doors, quality management and health and safety in the workplace. Then the individual will move onto more of an operations-based role, which will see them work across multiple departments in the business, take on mentoring and development roles and complete their process leader and lean practitioner qualifications.
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